Life in Enid

One of the things that I have noticed about the small, locally owned businesses in Enid now, is that they are raising our lives and lifestyles to new heights. They are not using their experiences here in Enid to move on to something or somewhere else.
Thank you, this is how it was growing up here in the 60's and 70's.
As our brothers in New Orleans would say, "Laissez le bon temps rouler"!

the Hendersons ... version 3.0 ... Enid, OK photography

With the addition of a son-in-law, it was time to update the family portrait on the wall behind them.
I love the growth that the inclusion of the portrait shows (as well as adding the dogs to this one).
We are looking forward to the next version, 3.1.

A re-post from 2 years ago ... today

My Dad

A year ago today (the last Sunday in February) as Jolene and I were pulling into Hastings for our after church ritual, we got the phone call that my dad had passed away. I had just seen him that morning on another of my Sunday rituals. He and I watched "CBS Sunday Morning" with Charles Osgood, as we had done since he became ill in 1996. It was our time together alone since my mother was at church (and in those times I found out he "got" the Beatles, although he said he didn't in 1964, but he didn't "get" Springsteen, and he also like the art of Andy Warhol, who would have thunk it), even though he was sleeping that Sunday (as he had done almost continuously for the previous 3 weeks). I had expected this call for 12 years, but it still kicked the breath out of me.
One of my Saturday rituals (other than 2 Krispy Kreme frozen donuts in the microwave for 37 seconds) is reading Jorma Kaukonen's (the former guitarist of the Jefferson Airplane) on line diary and thoughts. Sometimes on the anniversary of one of his parent's death, he writes this poem from contemporary Jewish liturgy. It is my thoughts now and so I thank him also for this inspiration.

"In Many Houses" by Diane Cole

In many houses
all at once
I see my mother and father
and they are young as they walk in

Why should my tears come
to see them laughing.

That they cannot see me
is of no matter:

I was once their dream:
now they are mine.



To all who read my blog, thanks for indulging me today.

The last post on the Venators ... till our next project ... Enid, OK Photography

The first year of school has changed a lot in the past 100 years, so it is extra special to take time out to remember it in a really sweet portrait, in a location that looks a lot like the school his great-grandmother may have attended.

The lady who started it all ... "the Grand Matriarch" ... Enid, Ok Photography

This is the last of the "generations" portraits for the Venators. What a great smile with beautiful eyes, you can see why her family wanted her portrait.

Four Generations of Ladies ... For the Youngest Venator Lady ... Enid OK. Photography

This is the third portrait in a series of four, great-grandmother, grandmother, mother and daughter. All happy, smiling and purpley!

The Venator Children ... with their maternal grandparents ... Enid, OK. photography

In this second portrait of the Venator children, it's all about family and the heritage that it brings. Whether it is the farm, church, or togetherness, it is represented for another generation as they all look at photographs from a time long ago. Let us help you make a statement for your future family, those who may only know you from a portrait! 580-233-8322

The Venator Children ... with their paternal grandparents ... Enid, OK. photography

Every grandchild can have special memories of their grandparents. For the Venator grandchildren, dominos with their father's parents give them great times together.
All families are different, we can find that special portrait for you, 580-233-8322

Today ... the Roberts Family ... 3 Generations, and Loving It ... Enid, OK Photography

After photographing the "cousins", the Roberts family decided it was time to photograph the family. A splendid time was had by all (I particularly loved the chocolate chip cookies from our new friends). Thanks!

the Roberts Cousins ... A wonderful gift and surprise for their Grandmother ... Enid, OK Photography

The people Mrs. Roberts works with came up with the idea of a portrait of the grandchildren for her birthday. Between working with them and her family, it was a total surprise, no one spilled the beans!
Thanks.

Linda, Dennis & Woody ... The best family a photographer can have ... Enid, OK Photographer

What more can I say about the Kellicks?

the Streck family ... don't they look like they love each other ... Enid, OK Photography and Photographer

We have photographed both of these little girls for years, actually before they were born in "Maternity Portraits". So it is really a joy to see them grow up, what angels.
The title "don't they look like they love each other" is a saying our youngest daughter used when seeing the families that we photographed when she was a child. Don't you think it was true then, and now?

Our niece, Shona, grandniece Kara, and future grandnephew Mason ... Enid, Ok Photography and Photographer

What a wonderful and sensitive gift Shona came up with for her husband Charlie and the rest of her family. It is always a pleasure to create these portraits for family. We know that when Mason has his first child many years from now, this will be a visual reminder of the love his mother and sister have for him.
Don't put off, yesterday is a million years away.

the Postiers ... this family brought to you by the letter "P" ... Enid, Ok. Photography

A couple of days after the initial design consultation, Margie came up to me at Sunday School and asked "do you have  a moment". "Of course". She went on and began to tell me about an idea for the portrait, "I was wondering if we could be posed in the shape of a "P", have you ever done anything like that before"? I thought for a few moments, "I don't think so". "Could you try?" " Let me think about it and get back with you".
As you can see, I did, and certainly "we" did.
As Yoda said, "There is no try, there is do, and there is not do, but there is no try".